Jean Charest, Liberals ponder next steps

A politician of Jean Charest’s calibre, with his vast network of contacts, here and abroad, dynamic speaking talents and 28 years of public service is bound to be scooped up by someone.

He’s also young enough at 54 to make a fresh start.

But where he goes, and in what capacity, is, at this stage, anyone’s guess.

Charest says he never envisioned any other job than the one he was seeking — perhaps he felt he had to say that as leader in an election campaign.

On cue, he would say he was going to win a majority government. History will show he came close.

So close that there is speculation he might have stayed in office had he bagged five more seats provincially and not lost in Sherbrooke.

The loss on the home front was certainly a big factor in his decision, even though with the average lifespan of a minority government being about a year and a half to two years, he could well have had another crack at the premier’s chair.

Winning Liberal Members of the National Assembly were even ready to give up their seats to get him back.

“As for the future, I sincerely don’t know, and I think he himself has no plans in this area.”

Asked about a future political comeback, D’Amour said: “Now, he’s still young, has a lot to give, so I wouldn’t exclude it.”

In the hours after Charest’s emotional farewell in Quebec City, rumours about his future started to swirl. Many just could not believe such a political animal could actually give up the game he loved.

On top of that, his concession speech that evening was full of references to the proud Liberal party fighting on for what it believes.

The wildest rumour was that he would find immediate work as leader of the currently leaderless federal Liberals.

That is to not know Charest’s past well. He cut his political teeth in the old Progressive Conservative party.

But don’t get the idea he would want to go back to the current Conservatives. That party has shifted much more to the right under Stephen Harper than a guy like Charest would be comfortable with today.

Certainly, he has no future in the New Democratic Party, now lead by former Quebec cabinet minister Thomas Mulcair. The two had a falling out years ago when Charest tried to demote Mulcair in the cabinet.

And finally, there is one big reason for Charest to move out of the political limelight for now. Nobody really knows how he will come out looking once the Charbonneau Commission, the inquiry into corruption and collusion which resumes hearings Sept. 17, gets through with its work.

So even if some would have liked Charest to stay, he was probably ready to move on. Certainly, his family wanted him to.

So where does he land?

The speculation has started.

It’s clear a guy like Charest will miss the thrill of the political game, the energy that comes with the debate or a well-delivered speech.

For that reason alone (unless he needs the money) he might not feel comfortable or challenged enough in the traditional landing pad for former politicians: legal firms.

Charest is a lawyer, but had only practised for three years before getting elected to the House of Commons in September 1984.

Former political leaders like Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien and Daniel Johnson have made the adjustment and seem to be thriving in those kinds of jobs.

But Charest might be more interested in some high-profile international role.

For now, however, the focus in Quebec City is on transitions, from a Liberal to a Parti Québécois government, and to a new Liberal leader.

True to tradition, Charest left no real successor, leaving the door wide open.

Jean-Marc Fournier, justice minister when the election was called August 1, was teased by reporters as a possible replacement because he rode Charest’s election bus as an adviser. On Thursday, he took himself off the list of potential leadership hopefuls in a Radio-Canada interview.

“I have no ambitions to become party leader,” Fournier said. He did not rule out a role on an interim basis because someone will need to be in the chair when the National Assembly resumes sitting.

Speculation also includes the names of some outsiders. But adapting to — and being adopted by — the insular Liberal party is no easy feat. Charest himself struggled with the change after his years in Ottawa.

At the top of the outsider list is former health minister Philippe Couillard who, up until a week ago, was working as a consultant for Secor. He could not be reached Thursday.

Another who regularly makes the short list is Monique Leroux, chairperson and CEO of the Caisse Desjardins.

On Thursday, an aide quashed that rumour.

“Mme. Leroux has just been re-elected for four years,” said Caisse spokesman André Chapleau. “She has until 2016. She intends to finish her mandate at Desjardins before doing other things.”

But while a leadership race might help renew the Liberals, the party has no real tradition in doing them.

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